Quizzes at Fun Trivia Fun Trivia | quizzes Quizzes | games Games | community People | services Services | help Help | me Me
New Player - Log In
Currently 6150 players online.   Trivia games, quizzes, and contests - FREE !     Get Started! quiz register


  • New Questions

  • Unanswered

  • Revisited

  • Your Questions


  • Post a Question
  • Goto Qn #



    110,600 questions asked
    382,013 replies


    Archives

    In the movie 'The King and I' starring Yul Brynner, what was the king's name and what was his name in real life, and why is the film banned in Thailand?

    Question #42255. Asked by mochyn.

    lothruin

    In the movie: King Mongkut of Siam.
    In real life: Also King Mongkut, from what I can tell.

    The movie was banned in Thailand because of historical distortions. The real King Mongkut was extremely well-educated and deeply religious. In the movie, he appears to be at least a bit ignorant and arrogant.

    Dec 12 03, 4:00 PM
    lothruin

    For a different real-life name, perhaps you are looking for Rama IV? He appears to have been known as King Mongkut as well.

    Dec 12 03, 4:01 PM
    Baloo55th

    It's banned because it's insulting to the Thai monarchy by portraying the king as more or less a barbarian who had to be civilised by Anna. The Thai (or at the time Siamese) nation was quite civilised at the time and the story is basically a load of cobblers.

    Dec 12 03, 4:10 PM
    griffinj

    King Rama IV, or Chom Kloa, is known as Mongkut, and the last is the name used in the movie, but it is an accepted name for the monarch.
    "In Thailand (previously called Siam) the Royal family is held in very high esteem. The King and I is banned in Thailand due historical inaccuracy and perceived disrespect of the monarchy. The real Prince Chulalongkorn (or Chula Chom Klao) grew up to be an especially good king and led the way for modernization, improved relations with the west, and instituted many important cultural and social reforms in Thailand." (IMDb)
    Anna Leonowen's book does fall somewhere between very badly slanted history and outright fiction. The portrayal of King Mongkut is absolutely at odds with historical fact. “An ascetic who spent most of his life as chief abbot of a Buddhist monastery, King Mongkut knew more of Western civilization and languages than any Oriental monarch of his day… He is alleged to have said 'What you {Christians}teach us to do is admirable, what you teach us to believe is foolish.’” “Kingdoms of Asia, Middle East, and Africa”, ed. Gene Gurney (New York 1986)





    Dec 12 03, 4:11 PM

    Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

    Other Similar Questions & Answers


    Name the 1990 Martin Scorsese film starring Robert De Niro?

    What is the name of the movie starring Roy Schneider based on the life of dance choreographer Bob Fosse?

    Which film starring Brittany Murphy also stars a pet pig with a Thai name, and what is the pig's name?

    Please can some kind soul help me to remember the name of a film - It was a British film, a comedy, set in Wales. Brenda Fricker and Jane Horrocks were in it, and it was about two sisters who accidentally killed their mother, and hid her body.I cannot remember for the life of me the title of this film - Can anybody help?

    Suggested Related FunTrivia Quizzes - 90,000 currently online

    1 Yul Brynner
    Test your knowledge about this enigmatic star. Good Luck!
    Brynner, Yul Tough
    10 Q
    suncatcher
    May 20 01
    1089 plays
    2 Name The Movie I
    I give you some info on a movie, like actors, director, etc... Your turn to name the movie.
    Name It - Tough 10 Difficult
    10 Q
    jeth
    Jun 26 01
    1368 plays
    3 Stephen King Name The Movie
    How well do you know your King movies?
    King, Stephen Average
    15 Q
    barbara938
    Jun 11 01
    3546 plays


    "Ask FunTrivia" is for entertainment purposes only, and answers offered are unverified and unchecked by FunTrivia. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or veracity of ANY statement posted. Feel free to post an updated response if you feel that an answer is inadequate or incorrect. Please thoroughly research items where accuracy is important to you using multiple reliable sources. By accessing our website, you agree to be bound by our terms of service.